VALENCIA, Spain — Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola learned Thursday he has a slipped disc after being taken to the hospital with acute lower back pain immediately after his side’s victory over Valencia.

The 40-year-old former Barca and Spain midfielder remained in care Thursday after medical tests were performed, forcing him to miss training the day after his team’s 1-0 win Wednesday night.

“The Barca manager will be treated with drugs and epidural injections, and his hospital discharge will depend on how successful that is,” a club statement said.

Guardiola was forced to cancel a pregame news conference because of the problem and again looked in pain during the Valencia game, which was won by Lionel Messi’s solitary strike.

“Pep is not feeling great and he got through the match as best he could,” Guardiola’s assistant, Tito Vilanova, said after the game. “He is having a bad time of it and he doesn’t even know where to put himself.”

The club will hope for a speedy recovery with a home league game with Real Zaragoza on Saturday before Arsenal comes to the Camp Nou on Tuesday evening. The Spanish champion needs to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

There was healthier news for Barca on the field, though, with the team’s masterful playmaker Xavi coming through unscathed after a full 90 minutes against Valencia. The midfielder had missed Saturday’s 3-0 league win over Real Mallorca with a calf injury.

The victory at Valencia took Barca 10 points clear in La Liga, having played a game more than archrival Real Madrid.